ATK celebrates delivery of 100th missile

A manufacturing company rolled out its latest product in contributing to national defense in a show-and-tell ceremony Monday at the ATK Defense Group's Ridgecrest facility.

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By Jack BarnwellCITY EDITORjbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Ridgecrest Daily Independent - Ridgecrest, CA

By Jack BarnwellCITY EDITORjbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Aug. 6, 2013 at 5:54 PM

By Jack BarnwellCITY EDITORjbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Aug. 6, 2013 at 5:54 PM

A manufacturing company rolled out its latest product in contributing to national defense in a show-and-tell ceremony Monday at the ATK Defense Group's Ridgecrest facility.

Local and federal elected leaders and military personnel gathered to celebrate the delivery of the 100th AGM-88E advanced anti-radiation missile (AARGM), developed in coordination with the Navy at Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake.

Scott O'Neil, executive director of Naval Warfare Command Weapons Division, called the delivery of the 100th missile a milestone for both ATK and the base's weapon division. The missile is part of the $71 million contract ATK received in 2012 from the Navy to help develop the technology.

“The AGM has brought a game changer to the nation's warfighter – one that is desperately needed,” O'Neil said. “A lot of hard work has gone into bringing us this technology.”

The missile is an updated version of existing technology which allows it to hone in on enemy radar equipment.

While previous versions of the missile guidance system could be fooled when the enemy shut down its radar system, the AGM-88E’s multi-mode system allows it to still hit the target.

O'Neil praised ATK, which holds the contract for part of the development of the missile system, for its contribution to providing a better asset for the nation's fighter pilots.

“A lot of the testing did not go through like we had wanted,” O'Neil said. He added that the team worked through the tough spots and produced an upgrade in technology.

Rear Adm. Mathias Winter, former commanding officer of NAWCWD, said the cooperation between the base and an industry leader like ATK showed in the development and delivery of the new missile. Winter said things were done in a different fashion than some of the more bureaucratic steps elsewhere.

“We got to sit down and do things different with the same smart people,” Winter said.

Winter, like O'Neil, commended ATK on the contribution to the development of the missile system.

“ATK is a premiere contractor,” Winter said. “They bring to the table a deep understanding of the needs of our nation's defense. Our warfighter needs this capability that this missile provides.”

Congressman and House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R – Bakersfield) called the delivery of the missile a big day for NAWS China Lake and the area for a number of reasons.

“First and foremost you did not give up and continued to stay the course,” McCarthy said. He said the first priority of any development is giving the nation's warfighters the superior edge wherever it goes.

Page 2 of 2 - McCarthy said that the missile also represented a milestone in what can be accomplished when two entities work together.

“Here is the project that shows the Navy can revamp existing technology … and work with local businesses,” McCarthy said.

Kern County First District Supervisor Mick Gleason called the delivery of the 100th missile a welcome day for Ridgecrest.

He recalled, when he was with China Lake Alliance, on visiting the new ATK facility in town and helping to roll out the red carpet for the defense industry company.

“Having a manufacturing company here in Ridgecrest to help develop these systems is a great thing,” he said. “It is a model that all local cities should follow.”

Gleason, who served as a Navy fighter pilot, said he recalled the earlier technology from his days when he flew in the Gulf War.

“Having the ability that this missile offers was what we referred to as a go/no-go,” Gleason said.

Doug Larratt, ATK's program director for the AARGM project, said ATK developed portions of the missile system in Ridgecrest, including the missile's control section, while the guidance system on the nose was developed in Woodland Hills, a Los Angeles district. A third part was developed at China Lake.

“We have a partnership with NAWCWD to develop the ordinance components for the missile on base,” Larratt said.

Ridgecrest Councilman Jim Sanders said it was great to see this type of industry in Ridgecrest.

“It is wonderful to see what is produced when industry collaborates with government on something like this,” Sanders said. “It really benefits the entire nation.”